Decorative wall structure



April 1, 1930. c. E. MAIER DECORATIVE WALL STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 29, 192

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2 I ATTORNEY and decorating Patented Apr. 1, 1930 PATENT; OFFICE CHARLES E. MAIER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY DECORATIVE WALL STRUCTURE v Application filed November 29, 1927. Serial No; 236,442.

The present invention relates, generally, to wall structures, and more particularly to decorative wall structure of sheet metal the exposed faces of which are provided with a l vitreous enamel or other coating made to simulate marble, stone, or tiling. The invention also relates to structures and parts and combinations of parts for securing the decorative wall structure to a backing where- 10 by the securing or fastening arrangement is hidden from view, while the visual effect of mortar or cement joints is obtained.

An object of the invention is to provide a surface structure for walls for finishing purposes which is strong and which is simple and cheap to'make and to appl Anot er object of the invention is to provide decorative wall paneling of coated sheet metal having preferably uncoated offset fastening or securing elements which can be covered and hidden from view by adjacent paneling and in some parts by the panels themselves.

Other objects and advantages of the in-.

vention, not at this time enumerated, will be apparent from the foregoing description of the arrangements and combinations of parts of a structure embodying the invention, from the'drawings and from the appended claims;

and the invention also consists in the statements, setting forth the structure and the arrangements and combinations of parts, made in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, clearly illustrating the invention: 7

Figure 1 is a plan view in section of two walls joining at a corner and embodying the structure of the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a Wall structure embodying the invention; V

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a corner of a room in the walls of which is incorporated the structure of the invention;

Figure 4 is a plan view in section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective similar to that of F gure 3, showing an alternate form of paneling;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional View taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a perspective view at a transverse section of one of the forms of paneling structure of the invention; and

Figure 8 is a vertical section View of another form.

In each of the hereinabove described views of the drawings, similar reference characters are used to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown the metal panel 1 which is somewhat extensive in vertical length and in horizontal width, is made preferably, of a sheet 2 of iron, steel or other metal, and has formed, unitarily therewith, attaching elements laterally disposed and comprising the perpendicular rearwardly directed flanges 3, 3 and the flanges 5, 5 oifset from said flanges 3, 3. Over the outer surface of said sheet 2 is provided a layer'6 of enamel which has been vitrified thereon and which extends to a little distance over the rounded corners 8, 8 between the sheet 2 and the flanges 3, 3. In Figures 1', 2 and 3 said panel 1 is shown as having an even surface to resemble large tiles or marble orstone slabs, and in Figure 5 panels 10, somewhat similar to panel 1, are shown as being grooved or scored in the manner of spaces between tiles so that the enameled panel resembles a wall of tile. Said panels 1, 1 (or panels 10, 10) are secured to the walls 12, 12 by means of the screws 14, 14 or any other suitable fastening means driven into said walls. The finish or appearance of said enamel 6 on said panels 1 can be plain white or colored, or the enamel can be colored or figured to simulate marble or stone, or to obtain other desired decorative effects.

Because of the outward oifset of said flanges 5, 5 from the panels 1 or ,10 there will be a space between adjacent panels when fixed to a wall, and to fill said inter-panel spaces there is provided, as part of the invention, a longitudinal panel 16 having laterless than the distance between a panel 1 and its flange 5. Said panels 16 are fixed in place between corresponding panels 1, 1 (or 10, by driving large headed nails 20, into the walls 12, 12 with their heads left at a disonto said flanges 17, 17 thereby securely fastening said panels 16 in place. When the panels 16, 16 are put in place the cement 22 is smoothed off at the seam formed between adjacent edges of panels 1 (or 10) and 16 to provide the effect of a mortar joint 18 between the panels 1 and 16. Said panels 16 can be made quite narrow in which case a single row of nails 20, 20 is used for locking to the cement body 22, (see Figure 1) and the panels 16 can be quite wide in which case a row of the nails 20, 20 is provided adjacent to the osition of each of the flanges 17, 17 thereo (see Figures 1 and 4). The flanges 3, 3 serve to keep the body of cement 22 against lateral movement and therefore against an tendency to loosen. At corners between a jacent edges of panels 1, 1 (or 10, 10) there are provided narrow corner panels 25 which are similar to panels 16 except that they are curved to conform to the corner, and a row of the nails 20, 20 is provided in each of the adjacent walls to lock or retain a body of cement or plaster 28 in which the flanges 26, 26 of said corner panels 25 are imbedded. On both said panels 16 and 25 a coating or layer of vitrified enamel 29 is provided as on the panels 1 and 10. It is to be understood of course that the wall structure panels 0 the invention can be made without the coating of enamel in which case a decoration can be painted on either to simulate tiles or to make a plain coating or a fanciful design.

The panels 1, 10, 16 or 25 can be extended to the ceiling of a room or they can terminate at an intermediate line in which case an overlapping moulding 21 can be used to cover the ends thereof, (see Figure 3), or a horizontal row or line of narrow panels 16 can be used to border the top of the assembled panels. Any

5 or all of the panels can be made with fastening flanges at either their top or bottom edge or at both. The narrow panels 16 or 25 can be used to border the assembled panels at the bottom thereof also as shown in Figures 3 13 and 5.

In Figure 8 is illustrated a form of panel particularly adapted for base boards, and also for other purposes, which comprises a main panel portion 30, with offset securing flanges 31 and 32 at the top edge and, at the bottom a conca-vely outwardly curved portion 33 and a convexly curved portion 34 bordered by an outer bottom ed e 36 adapted to be embedded in a cement floor 38 adjacent a tile flooring 39, or otherwise fastened. Said panel can be made and that various changes and alterations in the arrangements and combinations of parts can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Hence, I do not limit my invention as set forth in the statements in the claims to the )articular structures or arrangemens or com inations of parts as herein described and illustrated.

.1. Awall structure comprising a backing structure, a plurality of aligned sheet metal panels havin offset securing elements fastened to said liaeking structure, said aligned panels having intermediate spaces, a cementitious material in said spaces, anchoring means in said backing structure embedded under said cementitious material, and an intermediate anel extending across the space between said adjacent panels and having lateral anchoring elements embedded in said cementitious material.

2. A wall structure comprising a backin structure, a plurality of aligned sheet meta panels havin ofi'set securing elements fastened to saiddiacking structure, said aligned panels having intermediate spaces, a cementitious material in said spaces, anchoring means in said backing structure embedded under said cementitious material, an intermediate f panel extending across the space between said adjacent panels and having lateral anchoring elements embedded in said cementitious material, said panelshaving a vitreous coating on their exposed faces, and said adjacent anels and intermediate panel being sized and spaced to disclose between their opposed edges the cementitious material underlying the latter panel to produce the effect of a mortar joint.

3. A wall structure comprising a backing structure, a plurality of aligned sheet metal panels having lateral rearwardly ofl'set attaching flanges secured to said backing structure to mount said panels in spaced apart relation, anchoring means in said backing structure between adjacent panel edges, a cementitious material between adjacent panel edges embedding said anchoring means, and an intermediate panel extending between said adjacent panel edges and having lateral eonverging flanges embedded in said cementitious material.

4. A wall structure comprising a backing structure, a plurality of aligned sheet metal panels having lateral rearwardly ofiset attaching flanges secured to said backing structure to mount said panels in spaced apart relation, anchoring means in said backing structure between adjacent panel edges, a cementitious material between adjacent panel edges embedding said anchorin means, an intermediate panel extending etween said adjacent anel edges and having lateral converging anges embedded in said cementitious material, said panels having a vitreous coating on their exposed faces, and said adjacent panels and intermediate panel being sized and spaced to disclose between their opposed edges the cementitious material underlying the latter panel to produce the effect of a mortar joint.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 19 day of November, 1927.

CHARLES E. MAIER. 

